Hand luggage



Y 1939- o. H. PLQTKIN 2,157,833

HAND LUGGAGE Filed March 13, 1957 2 Shets-Sheet l 0. H. PLOTKIN May 9, 1939.

HAND LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9, 1939' UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE Dresner &- Son, Inc.,

tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application March 13, 1937, Serial N0. 130,770

Claims.

My present invention relates to an article of hand luggage which may, if desired, be patterned after a Gladstone bag in that it comprises a pair of opposed case sections which, together, form an enclosure for retaining various articles which are to .be accommodated in the bag. More particularly, the present improvements are directed to the utilization of a base board to which each of the case sections is connected, both pivotally and slidably, and to the association therewith of a removable liner having provision for accommodating within itself certain small articles so as to enhance the usefulness of the bag, all as will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

An article of luggage having these features of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective of the bag having its case sections closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the case sections nearly fully opened;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the case sections fully opened, the liner therein being also opened up to expose its various pockets;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the liner removed from the bag;

Fig. 5 is a detail of a garment hanger in operative relation to its supporting post (shown in section) Within the bag;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section of the liner taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detail in transverse section taken through the base board and adjacent case sections connected thereto, the associated liner being 35 also shown in part;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 10, showing the case sections opened up;

Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing the case sections closed;

Fig. 10 is a detail in section taken on line lB-Hl of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken on line H-l I of Fig. 9.

The present bag comprises a pair of similar case sections A connected to a rigid common base 7 board B upon which the case may be stood when in the position of Fig. 1. A carrying handle H is also provided upon the top side of the case, in accordance with the usual practice. Each case section comprises a side wall H to the margins of which are inturned joined ends l2 and a top l3. Depending from the top is a pair of plate lugs I4, each mounting a turn button I5. The meeting edges of the ends and'top are desirably off-set so as to overlap when the case sections are closed (see Fig. 11), and for this purpose reinforcing angle plates may be fitted along the edges in question.

The base board which is relatively wide is hingedly joined to the lower edge of each side Wall. The material of which the bag is formed (such as leather, fabric, etc., on the outside and a textile material on the inside) may furnish part of such a hinged connection. A plate flange l6 which is upwardly extended from each end of the base board lies just at the outside of the proximate edges of the ends of the two case sections when the latter are in closed position.

The entire case is desirably lined interiorly with some appropriate sheet material 20. In its middle region, i. e., over the base board and beyond the opposite edges thereof for a desired distance, is a further lining 2i (see Fig. 7) which, as shown, is free in the region of its two ends which lie beyond the long edges of the base board. If desired, this lining may have overlapping extensions 22 and 23 extending lengthwise of the bag in the manner best shown in Fig. 2.

Overlying the lining 20 at each end of the base board and between the spaced lower edges of the case section ends, when in opened position, is a reinforcing plate bar 25 having its opposite edges turned upwardly and then inwardly to provide facing flanges 26 which define a guideway wherein is slidably received a tongue 21, one end of which is formed with upturned lugs 28 in spaced relation to accommodate therebetween a pin 29 which is extended through a joint 30 at one end of a reinforcing plate 3! which is afiixed to the lower edge of the end wall of the proximate case section. As each case section is swung from open to closed position, or vice versa, sliding movements of the tongue 27 will take place within the guideway, thereby assuring an adequate supporting connection between the base board and the lower edges of the case section ends in any of their various positions.

The guideway just described may be secured in place as by rivets 35 which extend there;- through and through the proximate end of the base board, and also through a web 36 which is extended laterally from the end flange 16 (see Fig. 9). Also secured as by one of these same rivets is a bracket 3! which extends upwardly from the base board at a point about midway between its: opposite long edges, the bracket having a turned foot which is secured in place beneath the guideway so as to be firmly anchored in place.

The construction thus far described applies to complementary case sections and associated parts which are fixedly and permanently assembled together. The bag may be used without further accessories, but added advantages will be obtained through the employment therewith of a liner L, such as will now be described.

The liner may comprise a flexible sheet of fabric or the like having a length suflicient to extend from the top wall of one case section down to the base board, and thence upwardly to the top of the other case section. Desirably the liner is removably secured in place as by a pair of grommets 40 at each end for receiving the buttons l5, which, upon being turned, lock the liner in place. A further means of securement is provided by a bar 4| which extends transversely across the liner, within a pocket provided for the purpose, the two bar ends being each provided with an axially extending pin 42 adapted to enter within an opening 43 in one of the brackets 31 when the latter are sprung outwardly for a slight distance. By the means described, the liner is held at each end and also at its center. but may nevertheless be easily removed from the bag, when desired.

In closely spaced relation to one top wall is a slotted bracket M (see Fig. 5) into which may be inserted the head end d5 of a swinging arm 46 which is aflixed to a hanger M, much the same as set forth in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 of my Patent No. 1,984,698, dated December 18, 1934. One or more of such hangers may be carried by the bracket, each of the hangers being suitable for supporting thereon a coat 49, or other garment, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The liner may be provided at one end with a fiap 50 adapted when swung down to overlap and connect with a second flap 5i, and also two underflaps 5-2 which are extended inwardly from opposite edges of the liner. Within the pocket thus formed any flat articles, such as shirts, etc., may be accommodated and protected. This pocket lies within one case section of the bag. Within the other case section of. the bag are other pockets formed by a flap 53 at the opposite liner end adapted to overlap and connect with a complementary flap 54. Compartments for shoes and the like may be formed by stiffening reinforcements near the ends of the liner whereby to provide inside walls 55 which co-operate with smaller transverse flaps 56 which are adapted for releasable connection therewith. When the flaps 56 are disconnected, the walls 55 may be swung down (see Figs. 3 and 6) so that the additional compartments formed thereby will no longer exist.

In use, various garments, such as coats, trousers, and the like, may be suspended from the hangers, the lower portions of such garments being placed beneath the cross flaps 22 and 23 which are extended inwardly from the lining 21. If desired, the liner may thereafter be secured at its ends and middle in the way already mentioned, its several pockets being filled, if desired, with articles having a size and configuration appropriate therefor. When the case is closed, as in Fig. 1, the various articles accommodated within the bag will be separated from each other, and, in consequence, will be better protected. A feature of primary importance is the flexibility of the pocket and compartment arrangement made possible by the utilization in various ways of the diflierent flaps already described. When the case is to be opened it may be set upon a table with one case section supported against a wall, much as shown in Fig. 2. The

several hangers with garments thereon may then be removed, if desired, for transfer to appro priate supports in the room. Likewise, the liner may also be removed from the bag and be supported at any convenient place. When so removed, its several pockets and compartments may remain closed through the employment of suitable strap or button fastenings, as shown. If desired, the shoes or other articles within the compartments may continue to remain in place, so that it is not necessary to unpack from the liner more than those very articles which are desired for removal.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the present bag comprises a pair of similar case sections connected for movement relative to each other so that, when closed, they provide between them a complete enclosure and, when opened, a tray-like structure which is flat over its entire surface. In fact, if desired, the bag may be hung from its handles, when fully opened, so that one case section will depend below the other allowing garments upon the hangers to be suspended vertically. With such a case I combine a liner which may be releasably secured at its opposite ends so as to remain immovably within the case when the latter is closed, the liner, when detached, being adapted for support exteriorly of the case with its various pockets and compart ments adapted to retain the articles previously packed therein. This combination of such a case, adapted to form an enclosure or to present a traylike structure, together with an associated liner which is flexible and adapted for releasable securement within the case at opposite ends, and also adjacent its base board, the liner-furnishing a plurality of pockets and compartments, is an important aspect of this invention, as is also the sliding pivotal connection between the base board and the case sections whereby an adequate sustaining reinforcement is provided at such points.

I claim:

1. In an article of luggage, the combination of a rigid base section hingedlyconn'ected to two side case sections, in a manner whereby, when opened, the case sections present a continuous flat surface and, when closed, an enclosure between them, a flexible liner adapted to be releasably secured within the case sections, interengaging means at the opposite ends of each side section to releasably secure said liner at its opposite ends thereto, and interengaging means on said base section to releasably secure said liner thereto at a point intermediate of its ends, the liner being supported at three points by said interengaging means so as to lie flat within the case sections when the latter are opened to present a continuous flat surface and to take the form of said case when the sections are in closed position.

2. An article of hand luggage having a base board and a pair of foldable case sections swingably connected to said base board with each case section having marginal walls which terminate adjacent said base board but ofiset with respect thereto, hinge means reinforcing the inner free ends of said marginal walls and providing a swinging mounting for said walls adjacent the connection between said sections and said base board, means guidably mounting said hinge means on said base board for sliding movement relative thereto to compensate for said offset adjacent relation, and means secured within the case sections and to the base board to support clothing in flat spaced relation to said relatively movable connections between said case sections and base board.

3. In an article of hand luggage, the combination of a rigid base board, a pair of case sections, each case section comprising two end walls, a top wall, and a side wall swingably connected to the base board, whereby said sections cooperate to provide therebetween an enclosure, a hinge element connected to the proximate ends of each end wall and being offset from the connection between the side walls and base board, and means for guidably mounting said hinge element on the base board for sliding movement relative thereto to compensate for said ofiset relation.

4. In an article of hand luggage, the combination of a base board, a pair of case sections, each having a side wall connected to said base board and forming a hinge zone therefor, marginal end walls connected to said side walls, said end walls being reinforced at their inner ends and having hinge means also connecting said end walls to said base board, said hinge means being offset from said hinge zone, and means for guidably mounting said hinge means for slidable movement relative to said base board to compensate for said offset relation.

5. In an article of hand luggage, the combination of a base board, a pair of case sections each having a side wall connected to said base board and forming a hinge zone therefor, marginal end walls connected to said side walls, said end walls being reinforced at their inner ends and having hinge means also connecting said end walls to said base board, said hinge means being offset from said hinge zone, means for guidably mounting said hinge means for slidable movement relative to said base board to compensate for said offset relation, and a continuous flexible liner member releasably secured to said case sections and to said base board at points adjacent its opposite ends and middle respectively so that said member is caused tolie flat when said case sections are extended and adapted to fold upon itself from said base board when the case sections are closed.

OSCAR H. PLOTKIN. 

